Wait! It's only Jan. 12 and my first post for 2010 — and I'm already talking about getting away?! Well, many factors are at play here, primarily the fact that Chicago is heading into its long stretch of bitterly cold winds and inches of snow. But also because of the new site today from Marriott International that I saw in today's e-mail from LGBT business publication, Echelon Magazine.
While LGBT travelers aren't a new market for marketers and communicators, Marriott's new site, www.marriottgaytravel.com is a strong example of appropriately engaging with a global LGBT community of travelers. Available in four additional languages (Spanish, Portuguese, German and French), the new site is customized to provide relevant information of interests to the LGBT traveler — including promotions, unique hospitality packages, the company's commitment and even a note from the CEO of Marriott. Take a look and give us your take in the comments below.
I liked that the hospitality brand takes it even further by offering a portion of the proceeds from some of its hospitality packages to GLAAD. Marriott also includes LGBT-owned businesses in its supplier diversity initiatives, as well as host many LGBT events in its hotels around the world. This past year the company scored 100 percent on the HRC's Corporate Equality Index for the third consecutive year and continues to be a member of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
The message is clear — from their actions to the site's headline: Marriott is "a hotel that makes you feel right at home."
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